Massive star may be the reason Earth isn't a waterworld

[SPACE]( [Massive star may be the reason Earth isn't a waterworld]( Scientists have used computer models to show that our planet has a moderate climate and isn't an ocean world because there was a massive star in the vicinity of the primordial solar system that evaporated some of the water that otherwise would have been delivered to Earth as it formed. [Read more]( [MEDICAL]( [Clustered stem cells become working insulin producers in potential cure for diabetes]( Medical scientists have made a promising breakthrough in diabetes research, describing a novel technology that converts stem cells into insulin-secreting beta cells by harnessing an often overlooked step in their maturation. [Read more]( [SPECIAL PROMOTION FOR NEW ATLAS READERS]( [This free team collaboration app is changing how teams work together]( With free chat, file sharing, and task management features and more, Glip is a collaboration tool that helps cut down on information overload and email back-and-forth to instantly increase your productivity. With 96% of users saying Glip has made their communications easier and 64% saying they deliver projects faster, Glip is a no-brainer for helping your team reach its full potential. Access Glip on any device, with apps for both mobile and desktop, iOS and Android. Glip is free to use, for all features, for as many users as you want. Get started for free today. [Read more]( [AUTOMOTIVE]( [Nikola Motor takes on Tesla with battery-electric versions of its trucks]( Nikola Motor has so far been concentrating its pre-production efforts on hydrogen fuel cell trucking. But a tweet on Friday confirmed that the company is heading into shorter haul electric cargo transport territory with the announcement of battery electric versions of the Nikola Two and Tre.​ [Read more]( [MEDICAL]( [Decade-long study reveals key "master switch" regulating immune system activity]( ​A huge variety of disease essentially stems from a dysfunctional immune system. After ten years of work a new study has revealed, for the first time, the discovery of a molecule that has been found to modulate the immune system’s activity.​ [Read more]( Sponsored by Taboola //gizmagptyltd.cmail19.com/t/d-l-nurkhkt-wtkuhhtil-s///gizmagptyltd.cmail19.com/t/d-l-nurkhkt-wtkuhhtil-w/ [SPACE]( [Mars One goes bankrupt, ending private colonization project]( On January 15, Mars One Ventures was ordered to go into liquidation in a Swiss court, putting paid to plans to set up a permanent outpost on Mars with volunteers willing to leave Earth on a one-way mission with no hope of return. [Read more]( [MEDICAL]( [Almost 2,000 previously unknown bacteria discovered in the human gut]( Nearly 2,000 previously unknown species of gut bacteria have been discovered by using novel metagenomic data. The discovery greatly expands our knowledge of the microbial species living inside us, and establishes computational methods to help reconstruct and identify undiscovered bacterial genomes. [Read more]( [HEALTH & WELLBEING]( [Cheap supplement helps produce bigger babies]( Low birth weight is one of the leading causes of infant mortality, and it's more common in impoverished regions where pregnant women may not receive enough nutrition. A recent study, however, suggests that an inexpensive dietary supplement could be used to address the problem. [Read more]( [ENERGY]( [Researchers create flags that harvest energy from solar and wind]( Scientists at the University of Manchester in the UK have developed flags that are reckoned to be the first to harvest solar and wind at the same time. Not enough to power a house, or even a gadget such as a smartphone, but could be enough for set it and forget it remote sensors. [Read more]( [ARCHITECTURE]( [Rugged artists' retreat is wrapped in an eye-catching timber exterior]( Atelier Oslo was commissioned to design a vacation home in SkÃ¥tøy Island, Norway, for an artist couple who wanted a place for quiet contemplation and a space to work. The firm created an appealing retreat wrapped in an eye-catching timber structure that filters the light and frames the view. [Read more]( [SPECIAL PROMOTION FOR NEW ATLAS READERS]( [Achieve Your Goals With This Stylish Planner]( Visualize your goals and achieve them every day with the ZerModus Everyday Visionary Planner! Designed with a powerful and intuitive framework for each day, week, and month, this planner is all about helping you visualize what you want each day and putting together a plan of action to make it happen. You'll come to define your mission, set your objective, and establish the necessary attitude and habits to get there as you make your way across 12 weeks of planning. [Read more]( [ENVIRONMENT]( [China and India lead the way in "greening" the Earth since 2000]( A new study of satellite data has shown that the Earth has gotten “greener” in the last 20 years or so, with the biggest contributors being China and India. Before we celebrate though, there are a few caveats to consider. [Read more]( [OUTDOORS]( [Dethleffs' latest caravan sleeps 7 on stacked, convertible and lift-away beds]( You don't need a multi-module expansion system to fit a family of six inside your sub-23-foot (7-m) camping trailer. The Dethleffs C'Go Up does it with a series of bunks, convertible dinettes and lift-away beds. [Read more]( [BIOLOGY]( [Two billion-year old fossils reveal earliest evidence of living locomotion]( New fossils found in the African country of Gabon have turned up the earliest evidence of life showing some initiative and moving around of its own accord. It now seems that life was mobile some 1.5 billion years earlier than previously thought. [Read more]( [OUTDOORS]( [Boardswag rolls out a surfboard bag that doubles as an inflatable tent]( Love the idea of cruising the coast in a two-story surf motorhome or small camper van but are looking to go lighter and cheaper ... much lighter and cheaper? Australia's Boardswag has just the thing, a surfboard bag that transforms into a one-person tent with a few pumps of air. [Read more]( [AUTOMOTIVE]( [Highlights from the floor of the 2019 Chicago Auto Show]( ​The 2019 Chicago Auto Show marks one of the biggest years of late for the annual automotive event with more new vehicles unveiled than we've seen in some time. With one of the largest show floors in the U.S., CAS 2019 had a lot going on. Here's highlights of what can be seen there. [Read more]( [SCIENCE]( [High-tech fixes for our food supply headline IBM's annual 5 in 5 list]( IBM’s annual 5 in 5 list is here. This time, all five technologies in this year’s list are designed to fix problems in every step of the food supply chain, from seed to your plate. [Read more]( [SPACE]( [SpaceX's Mars Raptor engine claims rocketry record on path to lift-off levels of power]( ​How does one lift 100 metric tons of spacefaring gear into low-Earth orbit? For SpaceX and its ambitious CEO, that means strapping 31 advanced boosters to the bottom of a retro-styled rocket and shooting for the stars. Test-firing of this engine has now reached lift-off levels of power. [Read more]( [SCIENCE]( [Bacteria used to neutralize algae-bloom toxin]( ​When algal blooms occur in lakes, the over-abundant cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) produce a toxin known as microcystin. Now, Ohio-based scientists are using OTHER types of bacteria to neutralize that toxin, in a process that could be cheaper and more eco-friendly than the alternatives. [Read more]( [HEALTH & WELLBEING]( [Facebook's suicide prevention algorithm raises ethical concerns]( In a new commentary, two researchers are questioning the ethics and transparency of Facebook’s suicide prevention system. The algorithm reportedly flags users deemed to be at high-risk of self-harm activating a process where the company notifies local authorities to intervene. [Read more]( [SCIENCE]( [Experimental device easily measures fluoride in drinking water]( ​Although a certain amount of fluoride is added to municipal water supplies to help prevent tooth decay, too much can actually have the opposite effect – particularly on children. A new device could allow officials to detect those overly-high levels, cheaper and easier than ever before. [Read more]( You are receiving this email because you signed up for our daily newsletter at [newatlas.com]( (or [gizmag.com]( before August 2016). [Update profile]( | [Unsubscribe]( Copyright New Atlas © 2019